Premier League clubs have agreed to close the summer transfer window the day before the start of the 2018-19 season.

This means clubs will not be allowed to register any new players after 5pm on the Thursday before the season-opener.

The vote at a meeting of top-flight clubs on Thursday, which was not unanimous, followed weeks of debate about the uncertainty caused to managers and players by three weeks of transfer activity and speculation at the start of a new campaign.

Lots of clubs did business in the dying embers of the window, and players were left in limbo despite three games of the new season having already been played.

Philippe Coutinho is yet to feature for Liverpool this season and had a potential move to Barcelona hanging over him.

Similarly, Virgil van Dijk is yet to play for Southampton, but, from now on, business will be done before a ball is kicked.

Virgil van Dijk of Southampton (Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

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The Premier League released a statement saying: "Premier League clubs have today agreed to a rule amendment that will see the summer transfer window in any year end at 17.00 on the Thursday before the start of the season.

"This is for Premier League clubs only and has no bearing on other leagues and competitions.

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"The first transfer window in which this applies will be the summer transfer window in 2018 (ahead of the 2018/19 season) and it will close on 17.00 on Thursday 9 August 2018.

"This new rule applies only to the acquisition of players. Clubs will still have the ability to sell players to other leagues in which the transfer window is open (as they can now to leagues that have different transfer wind dates, e.g. MLS and CSL).

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"Clubs have discussed this topic at length at previous shareholders' meetings (February 2017 and June 2017) prior to today's vote."

As it stands, the ruling will only affect the English top flight, with no other leagues having voted on the potential change.